The Covid-19 situation in Ceredigion “appears to be improving slightly”, the council’s leader has said today.

Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn gave her regular update to senior councillors at a meeting of cabinet and said there had been 46 additional cases on Monday and 19 reported today, with an infection rate of 36 per 100,000.

Eight people are currently in Bronglais with Covid-19, Cllr ap Gwynn said.

Across Wales the rate is 500 per 100,000 people she told cabinet, adding “things are looking better but we have been in this situation before.”

Cllr ap Gwynn warned that the Tregaron and Cardigan areas had higher rates of cases and reminded all residents to be vigilant, adding rules on indoor mask wearing and sanitising remained in place.

She highlighted that education unions were concerned about the number of cases in schools and the impact on education with children aged ten to 19 where “the cases are most prevalent” but no schools in the county had been forced to close despite some changes having to me made.

Three care Ceredigion care homes remain classed as red, and cannot accept new residents, due to cases among staff, cabinet heard, as Cllr ap Gwynn urged anyone wanting to work in social care to come forward as recruitment remained an issue in the public and private sector.

Cabinet also heard that vaccination invitations were now going out for 12 to 15-year-olds as well as ‘booster’ third vaccinations, and health board advice was to go to your nearest vaccination centre on the date and time in your letter, rather than the centre specified if it was out of area.